Greek Course - page 3

ISSUE 2

7. The Verb.

1) Stem and ending.

Any Greek word can be divided into an unchanging part called the stem and a changing part called the ending.

The stem determines the basic meaning of the word.

The endings of Greek words change according to their function in the sentence.

e.g. In the word λεγω, λεγ is the stem, and -ω is the ending. The stem λεγ means `say’, and the ending -ω means `I’ hence λεγω means `I say’.

In the word λεγεις, the stem λεγ still means `say’ but the ending -εις means `thou’; hence λεγεις = `thou sayest’, or rather `you say’.

2) Person and Number It can be seen from these two examples that the ending of a Greek verb changes according to person whether first person `I’ or second person `thou/you’ or even third `he’.

The ending changes also according to number: singular endings being used in describing the action of one person and plural endings for more than one.

3) Present Indicative Study Duff pp.21,22. The whole Present Tense of λεγω is given on p.22. The Present Tense describes action going on at the present time.

e.g. `I am saying’ or `I say’.

The Indicative is a form of the verb that is used in making a statement or asking a question.

Write out the Greek words in the Present Tense of λεγω and also their English meanings. At the same time pronounce them, and try to memorise the endings. The same endings can be used in the Present Indicative Active of most other verbs in the Greek language.

These endings are the key to the Present Tense of most Greek verbs.

They are ­ω , -εις, -ει, -ομεν, -ετε, -ουσι.

Example:

The verb γραφω means `I write’. Its stem is found by removing the -ω. The stem is γραφ. The endings of the Present Indicative Active can be applied to the stem. Hence γραφω = `I write’, or `I am writing’. γραφεις = `thou writest’ or `thou art writing’.

γραφει = `he, she, it writes’ or `is writing’. Similarly the First Person Plural, γραφομεν means `we write’ or `we are writing’.

The Present Tense of the word ἀκουω is ἀκουω, ἀκουεις, ἀκουει, ἀκουομεν, ἀκουετε , ἀκουουσι .

Test 2

Write out the Present Tense of βαλλω (= I throw), ἀγω (= I lead), λαμβανω (=

I take), ἐχω (= I have), διδασκω (= I teach), ἀκουω (= I hear).

Exercise (for Issue 2)

Follow carefully the instructions in Practice 2.1 (Duff p.23). Once the first nine verbs on p.29 are known, the Practice should be attempted.